Hydra Lestrange Finch-Fletchley

The sense of festivity that was in the castle a month ago seem far, far away now.

Sometimes I catch myself gazing out the window of the library. The snow blows off the turrets like puffs of breath, if you watch long enough. I would like to go outside and find tiny, tiny tracks to follow into the forest. I would like to find a pond for ice skating. It would be lovely to skate on a pond in the forest, with the sunlight trickling through the overhead branches.

Well, that's just a daydream, and it's all there's time for. There's ever so much to do.

The Arithmancy study group would go better if it didn't always end with a row over vibrational algorithms.

Marjoram, Corey... I'm sorry, but I really don't know which of you is right. Corey, your method is faster, but Marjoram's is more like what Professor Vector had in her lesson. Effluvia, it isn't really fair to automatically take Marjoram's side just because she's in your house. Corey's in my house and I don't automatically take his side. I think it's best to explore all sides of an issue before making one's mind up. So, tomorrow I'm going to Professor Vector's office to ask her myself.

I was already in her office yesterday. She worked up a study schedule for me, so that I can keep up with the lessons a little better. But I was already studying MORE than what she put on the schedule I'm sure that I'll do better than an A by the end-of-term exams.

Other than that, there's not really much happening, is there? Well, not for most of the third-years. Some of them will be going to an event on Saturday, as it turns out. I thought it was for CCF but I suppose not. Beauxbatons will be there, and some different Hogwarts students, including third-years who of course aren't in CCF yet. Nobody really knows why some people were chosen and others weren't. I wish someone would say But I should use that time to study, anyway.

If I'm not careful I'll have spent all of hols having done nothing but read books. Many people gave me books as gifts this year, which is fine by me because I gave many people books in return, as well. I've got Pure Hunger, Charmless, the first book in the Incantation series, and some others besides. Now that I've finished all my thank you notes and sent them off, it's entirely too pleasant to stay in the dungeons and read before the fire while munching on chocs relaxing all day.

So I think that tomorrow I may need a bit of a walk, or maybe a fly. Something with fresh air and sunshine (if there is any!). Oh, and then I should probably try to study my arithmancy so that I can keep on top of things until lessons start up again. And study all my other subjects, too.

Pansy, I've heard people saying that your Mother had her baby, and it was a boy. Congratulations on becoming a big sister. I bet you can't wait to meet him in person.

Hi,

I thought you might want to know that I finally found an arithmancy study group today. I didn't ask the Ravenclaws, either, I asked Corey Whitacre, and then he asked Marjoram Montague, and it's only a group of three so far but we were in the library most of the day and I think it will help a lot with exams. Or I hope so, anyway.

And I don't know if you spent all day studying, too, but I know that I definitely needed it. Even though yesterday was a wonderful day, I didn't think about arithmancy even once.

So, I used the French book you gave me to look up some of the things that Coty and Toubon were saying to us. I don't know what to think now. I've heard some Hogwarts students talk that way to each other, but no one's ever said things like that to me... Especially that kind of insinuating talk.

I suppose it's probably too much to hope that my spell will make them stop anytime soon, isn't it?

From,
Hydra

Daddy -

You know how I'm always meant to owl Mummy every week with copies of my homework and essays and other school progress?

Well, last week, I forgot to send the owl.

But I remembered yesterday, so I just put last week's work in the bundle that had this week's work. Mummy hasn't said anything, so do you think she noticed that I forgot to owl her last week?

From,
Hydra

Today's YPL speaker sounds rather nift.
He's a historian, but I think it will probably be different than what we hear in our history lessons.
I know because I heard Professor Lestrange say that the speaker was a lively historian, not a deadly one.
I think my Uncle might be friends with the historian speaker, but then he knows a lot of people so who can say for sure?
I hope the YPL meetings will keep being interesting, especially since Quidditch won't be so much fun anymore.
I don't even much like the idea of going to the matches, because what if the Dementors come again?
And I know it might be rude to the other Quidditch players to say so, but the matches won't be nearly so interesting to watch without Harry playing.
I heard he's not going to be allowed now, you see.
So it won't be nearly so exciting.

Some people have asked me where Tully is so I suppose I should just tell.
He's been sick, but I don't know with what, I just knew that he wasn't feeling very good.
I noticed it a few week ago, right after Draco's mudblood was killed.
I took him to Professor Brutka who said he didn't seem that sick and then he reminded me that animals can't get the epidemic.
But then he said he could keep Tully for observation for a little while if it would make me feel better, so I said yes please, Sir, and that's what he did.
Only today Tully was back in his hutch by my bed and Professor Brutka left a note saying that Tully was doing well and to just make sure he gets plenty of water.
So I think that means Tully is all better now.
That's good, right?
I have to say, though, that Tina was a lot less work and worry.
The older students are talking about electives today.
I wish I could take electives next year, I'm certain I'd be very good at Care of Magical Creatures by now.
And very good at Dark Arts too, of course.
I don't know if I'd be allowed to take Divination, though.
There seems to be a lot of birthdays this time of year, haven't you noticed?

They were right and we are getting more homework now.
Some of it I like a lot like potions, because I've made potions before with Daddy, and also because its Professor Slughorns class, and he is my favourite professor.
Even though I like all of the professors very much, I do.
I want to be the best at Professor Slughorns class so I'm studying potions the most.
I'm also studying history of magic alot but not because its one of my favourites.
I think it might be my hardest subject, because some of the things Professor Binns says about history sound wrong to me, but can a professor be wrong?
He says "muggle born" a lot and when I asked what that meant he said a witch or wizard with muggle and swin parents but I thought people like that were called mudbloods.
And he also said Merlin was the greatest wizard ever but didn't he want to help muggles more than wizards?
I don't know what to do, so I'll just keep studying and maybe it will make sense.
Tina is still lively and lovely but I can't find Tex anywhere.
He disappeared a few days ago.
I've asked Cressida and Norma if they saw him around the dorm and they say no.
Norma thought that I might have done the charm wrong and it made Tex hop away.
So if anyone sees a little parchment rabbit hopping in the common room or somewhere else in the dungeon, can you please return him to me?
I know rabbits aren't allowed as pets, but I wonder if the Magical Creatures professor keeps any in his classroom.
Rabbits aren't magical, though, so he probably doesn't.
Does anyone know if I will get in trouble if I don't eat meat at supper?
I'm more in the mood for just mash and then pudding, of course!